Question reference: S5W-23807
- Asked by: Neil Findlay, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Labour
- Date lodged: 14 June 2019
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Current status: Answered by Joe FitzPatrick on 21 June 2019
Question
To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on offering (a) medical social workers, (b) social care and counselling services and (c) other additional NHS resources to people who were affected by infected blood products, and their families.
Answer
The Scottish Government provides financial support to those infected and affected by infected blood through the Scottish Infected Blood Support Scheme (SIBSS). In addition to specific lump sum payments and regular annual payments, the scheme allows for payments of one-off support and assistance grants, to provide financial support primarily to take account of the additional costs or financial hardship experienced by beneficiaries of the scheme, or by surviving spouses, civil partners, long-term cohabitees and dependent children as a result of the death of the beneficiary.
Support and assistance grants can be used for counselling and also support or care services needed as a result of the impacts of a beneficiary’s Hepatitis C or HIV infection. SIBSS has recently reminded its beneficiaries that this counselling support in particular is available to them.
The Scottish Government also provides separate funding for the Haemophilia Psychological Support service, which offers services to patients in Scotland with inherited bleeding disorders, including those who are SIBSS beneficiaries.
SIBSS staff can also help signpost beneficiaries to other support and advice services, including NHS services where appropriate.